Aging Out and Transitioning from Foster Care

The number of youth who age out of foster care has risen steadily over the past decade, even in the wake of increased efforts to achieve permanence for all children in foster care. For far too many youth, aging out of care results in homelessness, work instability, and a lack of stable, loving relationships with adults.

Youth in Progress enhances and advances the lives of today’s and tomorrow’s foster youth by supporting our sense of self and responsibility. To do this, we pledge to educate everyone involved in the various systems Youth In Progress members represent, to the realities of this experience.

This study takes an in-depth look at the challenges foster youth have in getting and keeping jobs as adults and examines what the various players in the New York’s foster care and workforce development systems are—and aren’t—doing to help young people transition from foster care into adulthood.

A resource for service providers working with adolescents in foster care throughout the New York including curriculum development, program design, and the statewide resource library catalog to provide training, technical assistance, a lending resource library, and program development.

One of the chief emotional issues adoptees face throughout their lives is learning how to cope effectively with the feelings that are associated with separation and loss. Leaving home is the ultimate separation, and not only has its own complicated challenges, but can trigger all of the feelings the adoptee may have about their own separation from the birth family and subsequent separations from foster families.

In the foster care system in New York, everyone ages out at 21, whether he or she likes it or not. No more nursing from the system, no more free room and board, and no more depending on others to make your life easier! It’s time to spread your wings and leave the nest. Time to go out and earn yourself a decent living.”

Casey Life Skills (CLS) is a free tool that assesses the behaviors and competencies youth need to achieve their long term goals. It aims to set youth on their way toward developing healthy, productive lives.

As part of the Annie E. Casey Foundation and other investors, the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative is active, in states and in local communities across the nation to increase opportunities for young people who are in or transitioning from foster care.

Flux: Life After Foster Care is a real labor of love from more than 100 members of the alumni community to our younger brothers and sisters in care who are facing the transition from foster care to adulthood. Bulk orders and Flux Trainings ideal for foster youth, parents, and child welfare advocates

In this paper research is presented that examines the efficacy of Independent Living (IL) services in preparing foster youth to live “independently”, and calls into question the appropriateness of an “independence” goal for youth aging out of foster care.

ABOUT THE COALITION

The Adoptive and Foster Family Coalition of New York was founded in 1975
as the New York State Citizens Coalition. The Coalition provides support,
information and advocacy for foster, kinship and adoptive families in
the Empire State and the professionals who serve them.